(Proverbs 30:24 KJV) There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
Wisdom is often found in small units. One of the mistakes that many believers make is to try to absorb too much at a time. I have never been too excited about programs that get you to read through the Bible in a year. It is probably a good idea but people being what they are, they substituted a set quantity for an alert quality. They become legalistic worshipers. They feel like if they have met a measurable minimum then they have done their part and can get on with the fun stuff.
Most of my moments of insight come from the combination of a focused mind, a willing heart, an inspired text and the touch of the Holy Spirit. Although God can work wonders, I am not sure how many times He breaks through the walls of legalism we put on our reading and worship.
So? Engage your mind. Focus. Listen. There are so many ways God wants to speak to us. It might be in the first verse of the three chapters you have scheduled. Don’t blow by and miss the blessing.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
The Beggar at the Door
(Proverbs 29:7 KJV) The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
I would venture to guess that most of us do not hang around really high class restaurants. By that I mean the ones with the ridiculously high prices. For me the most expensive experience I have had is a steak house called Flemings. I don’t think it is at the top of the scale, just the highest I have been to. Generally the steak, usually a la carte, is at least $50.00.
As I said, I don’t frequent these places but I realized one thing as I was reading this verse today: I have yet to see panhandlers around the expensive restaurants. A general rule of thumb is that the higher the price, the fewer the beggars. I think one of the reasons is that Bible believing Christians tend to be more frugal with their money than the rich and famous. At the same time they have read verses like this and realize that they are called to share what they have. That makes them better targets.
So? Next time someone asks you for a buck, rejoice. They recognize that your heart is more open to their situation. It may not be the way you want to be recognized but there it is.
I would venture to guess that most of us do not hang around really high class restaurants. By that I mean the ones with the ridiculously high prices. For me the most expensive experience I have had is a steak house called Flemings. I don’t think it is at the top of the scale, just the highest I have been to. Generally the steak, usually a la carte, is at least $50.00.
As I said, I don’t frequent these places but I realized one thing as I was reading this verse today: I have yet to see panhandlers around the expensive restaurants. A general rule of thumb is that the higher the price, the fewer the beggars. I think one of the reasons is that Bible believing Christians tend to be more frugal with their money than the rich and famous. At the same time they have read verses like this and realize that they are called to share what they have. That makes them better targets.
So? Next time someone asks you for a buck, rejoice. They recognize that your heart is more open to their situation. It may not be the way you want to be recognized but there it is.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Cosmetics or Character
(Proverbs 28:11 KJV) The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
Americans are in love with success. I say “Americans” because that is whom I rub elbows with every day. My suspicion is that the rest of the world is the same way. I don’t know if it is still on the air but there used to be a program called “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Millions of people watched it. Many of those were Christians. I never could figure out why it connected with people. Personally I would rather have a box of crackers than a catalogue of haute cuisine that I could never afford. I never made it a habit of stopping in at a restaurant just so I could smell the sauce.
We need to understand that the spiritual qualities God wants us to have are not tied to our income or power. Wisdom cannot be bought. Integrity cannot be ordered on-line. Righteousness cannot be produced by trips to the gym.
So? God will meet you where you are. He might want to take you somewhere else and make you something you can never be on your own but don’t expect that to include a stylish address or a fat bank account. It is possible that you could not handle it.
Americans are in love with success. I say “Americans” because that is whom I rub elbows with every day. My suspicion is that the rest of the world is the same way. I don’t know if it is still on the air but there used to be a program called “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Millions of people watched it. Many of those were Christians. I never could figure out why it connected with people. Personally I would rather have a box of crackers than a catalogue of haute cuisine that I could never afford. I never made it a habit of stopping in at a restaurant just so I could smell the sauce.
We need to understand that the spiritual qualities God wants us to have are not tied to our income or power. Wisdom cannot be bought. Integrity cannot be ordered on-line. Righteousness cannot be produced by trips to the gym.
So? God will meet you where you are. He might want to take you somewhere else and make you something you can never be on your own but don’t expect that to include a stylish address or a fat bank account. It is possible that you could not handle it.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Join Heart Book
(Proverbs 27:19 KJV) As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
Maybe that is why the popular social sight is “Face Book” not “Heart Book.” Most of us are happy just putting on a happy face, as the old song says. I have very limited experience on social media. The young adult Sunday School class I taught tried to have a group account. For the most part, very little of what came through was the real person. On twitter, how much of the real you can be portrayed in 140 characters?
Think of the reflections seen in water. The slightest wind can distort what you see. You can have fish lips appear in the middle of your forehead. A water spider can travel across your nose. Yet it is still reflecting what you show it.
Cosmetics can change the water reflection. They cannot touch the heart. What is inside is the real you. There is little you can do about it but Peter pointed out why the Gentiles were first accepted as brothers in Christ.
Maybe that is why the popular social sight is “Face Book” not “Heart Book.” Most of us are happy just putting on a happy face, as the old song says. I have very limited experience on social media. The young adult Sunday School class I taught tried to have a group account. For the most part, very little of what came through was the real person. On twitter, how much of the real you can be portrayed in 140 characters?
Think of the reflections seen in water. The slightest wind can distort what you see. You can have fish lips appear in the middle of your forehead. A water spider can travel across your nose. Yet it is still reflecting what you show it.
Cosmetics can change the water reflection. They cannot touch the heart. What is inside is the real you. There is little you can do about it but Peter pointed out why the Gentiles were first accepted as brothers in Christ.
(Acts 15:8-9 KJV) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.So? You can wash the dirt from your face. The Holy Spirit can wash the dirt from your heart. If you have not experienced that, maybe it is time to consider it.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Be a Loud Mouth
(Proverbs 26:22 KJV) The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
The KJV and the NASB use a different Hebrew word here. At least it looks different to me. But one source says they are really the same word. A “whisperer” (7279) (talebearer 5372 KJV) is a gossip. The idea of whispering comes closer here because while it is definitely bearing tales the modification is that it is a murmured tale. It is not openly declared, it is mumbled behind the hand while looking around to see if anyone is listening.
I wondered as I looked at this if this might refer to the way in which we witness. Is it the way in which we speak truth or take a stand on moral issues. We often are not willing to speak out when a voice is needed. Sure that is a tangent but that is the way my thinking is going today.
So? If you can’t speak it out boldly it might not need to be said. On the other hand it might need to be said and the answer is still to speak out boldly.
The KJV and the NASB use a different Hebrew word here. At least it looks different to me. But one source says they are really the same word. A “whisperer” (7279) (talebearer 5372 KJV) is a gossip. The idea of whispering comes closer here because while it is definitely bearing tales the modification is that it is a murmured tale. It is not openly declared, it is mumbled behind the hand while looking around to see if anyone is listening.
I wondered as I looked at this if this might refer to the way in which we witness. Is it the way in which we speak truth or take a stand on moral issues. We often are not willing to speak out when a voice is needed. Sure that is a tangent but that is the way my thinking is going today.
So? If you can’t speak it out boldly it might not need to be said. On the other hand it might need to be said and the answer is still to speak out boldly.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Wearing Out a Welcome
(Proverbs 25:17 KJV) Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
This is an interesting verse to come up the day before Thanksgiving. A large portion of the American population will be traveling to visit friends and family. They will put their “foot” (7272) in someone else’s house. Keep in mind that most of the Biblical recommendation and laws are based on moderation and balance. That is why it is Ten Commandments not ten thousand. There are standards with no wiggle room but that is not what this is saying.
Don’t let something like this become an excuse to join a monastery or become a hermit. Paul points out the problems with that,
So? Always seek balance. In social contact, be friendly and gracious but don’t overdo it. Finding the middle ground is work but it is expected.
This is an interesting verse to come up the day before Thanksgiving. A large portion of the American population will be traveling to visit friends and family. They will put their “foot” (7272) in someone else’s house. Keep in mind that most of the Biblical recommendation and laws are based on moderation and balance. That is why it is Ten Commandments not ten thousand. There are standards with no wiggle room but that is not what this is saying.
Don’t let something like this become an excuse to join a monastery or become a hermit. Paul points out the problems with that,
(1 Corinthians 5:10 NAS77) I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world.If we do not have any contact with the rest of the world then we would never be able to witness or be salt and light.
So? Always seek balance. In social contact, be friendly and gracious but don’t overdo it. Finding the middle ground is work but it is expected.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Kiss It Off
(Proverbs 24:26 KJV) Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
“Kisses” (5401a) have different significance in different cultures. For us the context is romance and sexual expression. We think of “french” kissing and wet kisses and all kinds of other terms that get our libidos roaring. In some cultures it is just a form of greeting. Even two men who would kill each other if given the chance will greet each other with a kiss. So broaden your mind a little.
In the OT it is used 34 times and except for once in Proverbs dealing with adultery and twice in the Song of Solomon I could not find any place where it was connected with romance. In fact it was usually men kissing men in greeting or as a sign of submission.
Some of the paraphrases get the nuance. For instance the Good News Bible,
So? Be honest. Speak truth, not to power but to righteousness.
“Kisses” (5401a) have different significance in different cultures. For us the context is romance and sexual expression. We think of “french” kissing and wet kisses and all kinds of other terms that get our libidos roaring. In some cultures it is just a form of greeting. Even two men who would kill each other if given the chance will greet each other with a kiss. So broaden your mind a little.
In the OT it is used 34 times and except for once in Proverbs dealing with adultery and twice in the Song of Solomon I could not find any place where it was connected with romance. In fact it was usually men kissing men in greeting or as a sign of submission.
Some of the paraphrases get the nuance. For instance the Good News Bible,
(Proverbs 24:26 GNB) An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.We should welcome people who are capable of speaking the truth. I would go so far as to say we should reject people who cannot tell the truth.
So? Be honest. Speak truth, not to power but to righteousness.
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